OKC Thunder Star Jalen Williams I Retired My Parents ... Talks $287 Mil. Extension

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EVERYTHING'S CHANGED!!!
TMZSports.com

Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams went from unknown college player to one of the best young talents in the NBA in three short years ... and he tells TMZ Sports his success has allowed him to give his parents an amazing gift -- retirement!!

The 12th overall pick in the 2022 draft has made the most of his time as a pro ... and his 2025 season was as good as it gets with All-Star and All-Defensive team selections, an NBA championship and a massive five-year, $287 MILLION extension to top it all off.

We caught up with 24-year-old J-Dub at LAX this week to ask what it's been like ... and he admitted he hasn't been able to process any of it -- including his fat payday.

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BEST GIFT EVER???
TMZ.com

Slithering Stars For World Snake Day 🐍!

Published

In honor of World Snake Day, celebrate these elegant, enigmatic reptiles! And since Hollywood tends to have a few snakes in the grass, what better way to slither into your feeds with the celebs who like to uncoil and relax 😉?!

Stars like Ice Spice wrapped rapped a swaggy snake selfie, Christina Milian "dipped it low" and picked several snakes to get down with, and Sommer Ray ditched the deejay headphones and accessorized with a slither serpent.

And check out Gracie Abrams showin' off her fear factor -- bringing the sassy scales and fierce tales to the 'gram!

Check out our ssssensational photo gallery!

Marty On 'Gilmore Girls' 'Memba Him?!

Published

American actor and singer Wayne Wilcox was 24 years old when he first started playing Marty -- Rory Gilmore's awkward college friend -- on the long-running drama-edy "Gilmore Girls" back in 2003.

Joining Wayne onset included Alexis Bledel as the gifted student who is searching for her place in the world Rory Gilmore, Lauren Graham as Rory's quick-witted mom, Lorelai Gilmore and Scott Patterson as the grumpy dude who is protective over Rory and Lorelai, Luke Danes.

Other noteworthy cast mentions include Milo Ventimiglia as Jess Mariano and Chad Michael Murray as Tristin Dugray.

Guess what he looks like now!

'big brother' contestant drops r-word on live feed

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LETTIN' IT SLIP
CBS

Another "Big Brother" controversy is brewing, as a current houseguest is under fire for using an offensive slur during a late-night conversation caught on the show’s live feed.

Isaiah "Zae" Frederich shocked fans while playing chess with fellow contestant Keanu Soto, when he suddenly blurted out, "Oh s**t. I'm a f***ing r****d." Realizing what he said, Zae quickly backtracked, adding, "Damn, I shouldn’t say that word."

Keanu replied, "No, you shouldn't," then followed up by wondering aloud if the live feed was even running at the time -- not realizing Big Brother’s fanbase was watching the moment in real time.

Zae responded, "That's one of the ones I was working on not saying," before the pair laughed it off. Keanu added, "I think you're good … you’re lucky it's late."

The incident drew backlash online, with many comparing it to a similar controversy from 2023, when contestant Luke Valentine was canned from the house after using the N-word on camera.

At the time, CBS said, "Luke violated the Big Brother code of conduct and there is zero tolerance in the house for using a racial slur. He has been removed from the house."

We reached out to CBS for comment ... so far, no word back on if Zae's remark will get him to face disciplinary action.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez We're In Miami, B*tch ... Back on U.S. Soil After Venice Wedding

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Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos are officially back on U.S. soil after their A-list wedding and international travels ... 'cause TMZ has learned the newlyweds just popped up in Miami Beach on Tuesday.

The billionaire and his bride enjoyed dinner at AVIV restaurant inside 1 Hotel South Beach ... and folks who were there told us it was just Jeff and Lauren at dinner, with security in tow.

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No celebrity entourage, friends or family for Jeff and Lauren on this occasion ... just a lowkey intimate dinner between husband and wife after rubbing elbows with A-listers at their wedding over in Venice, Italy.

'American Idol' Music Supervisor Arrest Made In Double Homicide

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Cops arrested a double homicide suspect after "American Idol" music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband were found shot to death inside their Los Angeles home ... TMZ has confirmed -- and it appears the couple came home and surprised a burglar who'd broken into their Encino house.

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POLICE AT THE SCENE
KNN News

Law enforcement tells us 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian was arrested on suspicion of double homicide. LAPD detectives believe he has no relationship to Robin and her husband ... and we're told this was an isolated incident. Boodarian is believed to have entered the house through an unlocked door on Thursday afternoon, police said.

Police said when the couple arrived home and discovered the suspect, a confrontation ensued and they were both shot multiple times. The suspect fled on foot, police said. Officers responding to a call for a welfare check on Monday discovered the couple dead inside the house.

Troy Ave Fends Off Armed Robber in Shootout ... I Got Your Back, Bro!!!

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TROY TO THE RESCUE
Instagram/@chefgeoffcole

UPDATE

7/16 -- 2:08 PM PT -- TMZ's learned the whole shootout video ended up being nothing but a fake ... with sources in direct contact with the guy telling us no live rounds were fired, and law enforcement confirming there were no reports of a shooting or attempted robbery.

Rapper Troy Ave is his brother's keeper ... and he proved it, big time, by opening fire on a gunman who ran up on his pal, celeb chef Geoff Cole.

The shootout went down in the San Diego area -- home security footage shows Geoff pull up at home in his Bentley, Troy gets out on the passenger side ... and as both men are walking toward the garage, a would-be robber sneaks down the alley and charges at Geoff.

The Brooklyn MC immediately reacted, reaching for his own handgun as the gunman fumbled an apparent weapon -- and Troy seized the opportunity to start shooting and chasing the guy back into the alley.

Minnesota Lawmaker Shootings Suspect Claimed Tim Walz Told Him To Kill Senators ... Left Note for FBI's Patel

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The man accused of murdering a Minnesota politician and seriously injuring another left a handwritten letter to FBI director Kash Patel, confessing to the shootings and claiming Minnesota governor Tim Walz approached him about killing 2 U.S. Senators ... at least according to federal prosecutors.

Vance Boelter was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Minnesota on murder and stalking charges in the killing of State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman.

Acting United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota Joseph Thompson said the incident was a "political assassination, the likes of which have never occurred here in the state of Minnesota."

Ghislaine Maxwell in Prison Life in the Fast Ghis-laine ... No Traffic on Exercise Track

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As President Trump's administration faces a whole brouhaha over newly released details in the disputed "Epstein Files" over the last week ... we're getting a peek at Jeffrey Epstein's one-time girlfriend and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell warming the track at the Florida penitentiary where she's doing time.

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STAYING ACTIVE
MEGA

Check out these pics and video ... Maxwell's getting some brisk outdoor exercise at FCI Tallahassee, where she's currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, with lots and lots of barbed wire as a backdrop.

Maxwell was accused of soliciting and grooming minors for abuse and sex crimes from 1994 to 2004 ... and was convicted on 5 counts, including sex trafficking of a minor in December 2021. She was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison about 6 months later.

Nicki Minaj SZA Sings Like A 'Dead F***ing Dog!!!' ☠️🐶☠️ But Solana Doesn't Back Down!!!

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UPDATE

7/16 -- 7:42 AM PT -- SZA's manager, Terrence "Punch" Henderson, told The Breakfast Club on Thursday that Nicki Minaj and SZA failed to connect on a song in 2020 ... but doesn't know how things went so nuclear yesterday.

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Nicki Minaj was conducting her daily Roc Nation roast -- and somehow SZA got looped up in the social media posts, and 🆘 ... a new beef has been born!!!

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NICKI GOES OFF
TMZ.com

SZA rattled off her first post of the day on X Tuesday, posting, "Mercury retrograde .. don’t take the bait lol silly goose" -- which Nicki interpreted as a direct shot at her amid her blasting Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez.

The thing is ... SZA's in a COMPLETELY different time zone, currently on her joint "GNX" tour with Kendrick Lamar, and had just finished her show at Paris La Défense Arena shortly before midnight European time.

Sydney Sweeney Bond Girl Role Not In 007 Crosshairs!!!

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Ever since she was spotted at Jeff Bezos' mega-wedding, rumors swirled that Sydney Sweeney may be in the running to be the next Bond Girl for his Amazon MGM Studios ... but TMZ has learned that casting isn't being shaken or stirred.

An insider with direct knowledge tells TMZ ... Sydney is not currently in talks to play the next Bond Girl, despite rampant online speculation -- and even some headlines debating the proposed choice.

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NOT IN CONSIDERATION
TMZ.com

We hear the casting conversation is just wishful thinking by her fans ... plus, there's also the fact the next film has just barely begun to take shape, with Denis Villeneuve recently tapped to direct. And no one has been cast yet to take the 007 mantle from Daniel Craig!

'X-Men' Star Shawn Ashmore Finally Free to Speak on Loss of Friend ... Murdered By Sam Haskell IV

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Shawn Ashmore and his wife Dana are speaking out on the horrific 2023 murder of their friend Mei Li Haskell ... finally feeling some sense of closure after the suspect, Sam Haskell IV -- the son of legendary TV agent Sam Haskell -- died by suicide and spared them the agony of a trial.

The "X-Men" star and his wife tell TMZ in a statement ... "Our hearts are heavy, but we feel some small sense of peace knowing there is finally a bit of closure. We are mourning the loss of an extraordinary mother, someone who poured her entire heart into her three boys and never stopped putting them first."

The couple was not allowed to speak out about the case until now ... because they were working alongside authorities as a representative for their close family friend.

'American Idol' Music Supervisor Killed In Double Homicide ... Police Find Murdered Couple in L.A. Home

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UPDATE

12:07 PM PT -- Our law enforcement sources tell us Robin and Thomas were both shot in the head ... and they were found in different rooms.

We're told cops are reviewing surveillance footage and no one is in custody ... and as of now, this doesn't appear to be a burglary because the home was not ransacked.

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POLICE AT THE SCENE
KNN News

Our sources say police found no signs of a break-in when they responded to the 911 call last week ... we're told a LAPD helicopter flew over the house but the suspect was not there when cops arrived.

Robin Kaye, an award-winning music supervisor on "American Idol," was found dead inside her Los Angeles home ... and TMZ has learned she and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were the victims of a gruesome double murder.

Our law enforcement sources tell us the bodies of the couple were discovered Monday inside their house in Encino after LAPD officers showed up for a welfare check.

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SUSPECT IN CUSTODY
TMZ.com

We're told cops saw blood at the front entrance and then smashed a window to gain entry to the home, where they found Robin and Thomas suffering from possible gunshot wounds. They were both declared dead at the scene.

Darth Vader OG Lightsaber to Be Sold at Auction ... May the Funds Be With You!!!

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Darth Vader’s actual lightsaber from "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" is hitting the auction block for the first time ever ... and the estimated price tag is sky-high enough to make you choke!

Yup, you heard that right -- Propstore, the holy grail of movie memorabilia, is ready to unleash the real film-used lightsaber … with a jaw-dropping pre-sale estimate of $1-to-$3M.

It’s worth every penny -- especially 'cause it's the screen-matched lightsaber from the epic Vader vs. Luke showdowns wielded by Darth actor David Prowse and stunt legend Bob Anderson in some of the franchise's most climactic moments.

Shaquille O'Neal Fumes At RGIII ... 'I'm Going To Punch You In Your F***ing Face'

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FINAL WARNING
Off The Record Podcast

Shaquille O'Neal just sent a stern warning to Robert Griffin III ... telling the Heisman Trophy winner if he continues to keep Angel Reese's name in his mouth, the Big Diesel is going to serve up a big ol' knuckle sandwich.

The NBA legend took aim at RGIII during an appearance on the "Off The Record" podcast this week ... going off on the former NFL quarterback for re-posting a racist meme of Reese on his X page.

"RGIII," Shaq said as he took off his sunglasses and stared into a camera. "Tweet another monkey post about my girl Angel Reese and I'm going to punch you in your f***ing face. OK? It's enough."

Dwyane Wade I Still Have My Mom's Letters From Prison ... 'I Read Them Sometimes'

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GREATEST PEN PAL
TMZSports.com

It's been decades since Dwyane Wade's mom was in prison, but he just revealed to TMZ Sports he still has all the notes she sent him from her time behind bars ... and he still reads them to this day.

The NBA legend opened up to us about being pen pals with Jolinda Wade while she was incarcerated earlier in his life, and he explained why it was super important to both of them to keep in contact despite her situation.

He told us he wanted to let her know "we wasn't judging her. We wasn't pointing fingers at her. We just loved her and we just wanted her to come home to us."